"Remember that time? That time? When she was locked in a tower and braided her hair into ropes?" A voice murmured by the side of the pond that sang in the gardens of the Awayuki residence.
The producer of the voice, the shadow moved, as wriggling in glee. A second figure detached itself from the darkness cast upon the grass by the rosebush, shadowy outline the only thing that could be seen of the strangers. That was, of course, if someone had been watching. And yet they weren't, everyone within the huge, new built cottage sleeping. For now. The second shadow joined the first and giggled in the same feminine voice as the first had murmured in.
"Remember? Remember that time when she scrubbed the kitchens then fled a wonderful party at beckoning of midnight?"
"I remember. But can you remember the first one?"
"Years back."
"Centuries back."
"Eons back."
"The first of all the 'Shes'."
"The first of all the Princess of Light."
"And the Princess of Darkness."
"And her name was-" Somewhere there was the loud trumpet of an elephant, sounding fading to reveal giggles from the other shadow.
"And the Princess of Darkness was-" This time a crowd of geese started up in such a noise that a light flickered on in one of the manor's windows.
"They're waking up!" The first shadow crooned.
"Waking up!"
"And here comes the carriage." The first one whispered again as there was a shimmer near the door of the house a few yards away, and a pair of cloaked figures appeared on the doorstep.
"The carriage!"
The first shadow turned to her companion. "Will you knock that off!" Mysterious tone evaporated in to one of annoyance.
"Sorry." Her companion said in the manner of a rebuked child before they both disappeared.
It was the quiet murmur of distant voices and the bell like sound that awoke Hayate. At first he dismissed it as the whispers of the fae creatures in the back yard, however a view of the clock from the corner of his eye told him it was far to late for anyone to be up, not even the hyperactive little sprites who made their home in the reeds of the pond out back. Which meant it could only be one other person; or people rather.
"Himeno. Wake up." Hayata whispered as he turned on the light, laying a hand against her shoulder and shaking it softly. Himono's lips move in some inaudiable mutter of grievence and she rolled over. "Himeno! Get- oof!"
A great gasp escaped him when she twisted so that her heel was driven into his stomach. He fell back, striking his head against the wooden backboard of the large bed he shared with her. The contact caused the large portrait that stood poised over the bed to shake from its perch and fall. Hayate gasp as it descended towards Himeno, casting a hand out.
"Wind." The cry was laced with worry and held to much force.
The funnel of air catching up the picture a hairs breach above his fiance's head and throwing it back into…or rather through the opposite wall. Cracks ran up the plaster, picture and frame embedded within the wall, glass shattered, picture within it torn to shreds. Himeno sat bolt upright, glancing down at Hayate who lay half sprawled on the floor, blown back by his own blast.
"Hayate? What- MY PORTRAIT!"
> > > > > > >
"It was an accident." Hayate argued at her from his place at the kitchen table. Himeno huffed irritably and turned her head away firmly, sizzle of the frying pan she stood over increasing as she poked at the fried egg within it. "Geez! If I hadn't done that it would have fallen right on your big tulip head."
"That was the special portrait I did of you all by myself for your birthday and you destroyed it. You never liked that painting! Don't try to deny it."
Hayate glanced towards the fragments of canvas that remained of the portrait. As much as he loved Himeno…she couldn't paint worth a damn. Whenever he saw the painting he felt queasy and self conscious. "I never said I liked it." He muttered under his breath. His words drew amused smiles from Sasame and Takako and Hayate turned a glare in Sasame's direction. "I don't see what's funny."
"Don't you think you're being insensitive Hayate? The painting was a special gift. Himeno put a lot of her love into it. That's why she's upset."
"Thank you Sasame!" Himeno said, walking over to dump the fried eggs onto Hayate's plate. "Atleast someone understands."
"Hey! These are burned!" Hayate said, glancing at the mass of black lumps that had been on his plate. His eyes darted towards the arrangements of a perfect breakfast that sat infront of Sasame and Takako. "And no one else's is."
"Sasame and Takako did not destroy my picture." Himeno said haughtily, folding her arms over her chest. Hayate grumbled irritably and pushed up from the table, storming out of the kitchen.
Worry touched Sakako's eyes as she watched him leave. "I think he's upset."
A smile touched Himeno's lips and she shook her head. "He'll be fine. He's just going off the think about what he's done." She laughed warmly then and walked over to stand near Takako's chair. "Would you mind to much if I held Kai again?"
Takako laughed and lifted her 6 month old son from her lap, holding him out to Himeno. "Of course not. Be careful, though. There won't be any peace ever again if he wakes up from his name."
Himeno's face lit with happiness as she excepted the baby, cradling him as if he was made of glass. Her eyes softened and danced with a longing expression. Takako and Sasame's son. It seemed like just days since she'd transformed into the White Pretear rather then…rather then 5 whole years. And she and Hayate where living together in a cottage, one he'd built just for them. Would she and Hayate have a son? Or maybe a daughter? Her smile increased in degree at the idea of a little baby girl with her hair and Hayate's sapphire eyes. Maybe she had been too hard on him?
As if she'd picked up on Himeno's thoughts Takako spoke. "Sasame told me you and Hayate are getting married next winter." Himeno looked up to see that Sasame had left the room. Takako smiled gently. "You'll have a child of your own soon."
Himeno laughed sheepishly and sat down again. "I never really thought about being a mother before. But since Hayate…ever since I met Hayate all I've wanted since then is a family of my own."
Takako laughed. "Our knights. Changing us so much that we don't even know who we are anymore." Lips quirked into a quiet expression. "But it's for the better I think."
"Oh please don't get solemn Takako! It's the first time you've visited since you had the baby. We should be celebrating!"
Takako smiled again brightly. "You're right, of course Himeno. All the other Knights are coming to visit as well?"
Himeno nodded. "Uh-huh! Except…." Her happy smile wilted, gaze dropping.
Takako sobered as well. "You still haven't found Mannen?"
Himeno shook her head, rosy locks dancing about her cheeks with the motion. "No. No one's seen him since last week. Hayate and I tried preting and searching for him but…but we couldn't find anything. Kei says he went to visit some friend and never came back."
"Did he try talking to the friend?" Takako asked, tilting her head.
"Yes. But he says Mannen never came over, over even said anything about visiting in the first place. I'm so worried. And I know Hayate is too even though he hides it for my sake."
Takako smiled sympathetically, reaching out to lay a hand over Himeno's. "You'll find him."
Himeno lifted her head and smiled, nodding firmly. "You're right. Kei or Goh might even have already."